I had hardly removed the last bar, when the door was thrown violently open, and six rough, powerful, and evil-looking men stood before me. 'Where is your rebel husband?' demanded the leader in a voice of thunder.

,

HISTORICAL SKETCHES.

- ■ Striving to be calm, I answered, 'He is not in the hou 'He is in the house,' was the gruff reply, 'one of my men sav. him enter more than two hours ago ; if you do not show me where v< ■ have hidden him, 1 will burn your house over your head.'

Again I assured him, that he was not in, 'He had been, but had

left.'

He hissed between his teeth :

'I do not believe you, if we find him I will hang him before your eyes.'

Then turning to his men, he ordered them, with a savage oath, to search in every corner. This they did. And in doing it, destroyed everything that came in their way. They spared nothing. Tliev seemed the most pleased when they could do the greatest injury. .Seeing his men returning alone, the leader became furious, and laying his brawny hand upon my shoulder, roared rather than asked --

'Where is the cursed rebel ? '

1 1 cannot tell you. ' *

'If he is gone, which way did he go?'

To this question I made no answer-- I. had become so frightened I could not.

'If you do not tell me,' said the soldier, 'I will drag you from the house, and tie you to one of these trees to freeze.'